3 Biotech

Bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation of the oncogenic role of COL11A1 in pan-cancer
Wan X, Deng Q, Chen A, Zhang X and Yang W
The intricate expression patterns and oncogenic attributes of COL11A1 across different cancer types remain largely elusive. This study used several public databases (TCGA, GTEx, and CCLE) to investigate the pan-cancer landscape of COL11A1 expression, its prognostic implications, interplay with the immune microenvironment, and enriched signaling cascades. Concurrently, western blot analyses were performed to verify COL11A1 expression in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cell lines and clinical samples. In addition, COL11A1 knockout cell lines were generated to scrutinize the functional consequences of COL11AI expression on cancer cell behavior by use MTT, colony formation, and scratch wound healing assays. A comprehensive database investigation revealed that COL11A1 was upregulated in a majority of tumor tissues and its expression was highly correlated with a patient's prognosis. Notably, genetic alterations in predominantly occurred as mutations, while its DNA methylation status inversely mirrored gene expression levels across multiple promoter regions. Our findings suggest that COL11A1 helps to modulate the tumor immune landscape and potentially acts through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway to exert its oncogenic function. Western blot analyses further substantiated the specific upregulation of COL11A1 in LUAD cell lines and tissues, suggesting a close association with the EMT process. Ablation of COL11A1 in cancer cells significantly reduced their proliferative, clonogenic, and migratory abilities, underscoring the functional significance of COL11A1 in tumor cell behavior. Collectively, this research revealed the prevalent overexpression of COL11A1 in pan-cancer tissues, its profound prognostic and microenvironmental correlations, and the mechanistic underpinnings of its tumor-promoting effects as mediated via EMT signaling. Our findings suggest that COL11A1 could serve as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for cancer.
Evaluation of Xihuang Pill in inducing pyroptosis in glioma cells through modulation of miR-21-5p
Tang N, Geng N and Zhu X
This study aims to elucidate the mechanism by which Xihuang Pill induces pyroptosis in glioma cells via the regulation of miR-21-5p. Human glioma cell lines U-87 and LN-229 were used as experimental models to assess the effects of Xihuang Pill on glioma pyroptosis. Cells were incubated with Xihuang Pill extract at concentrations of 7.5, 15, and 30 µg/mL for 24 h, alongside transfection with miR-21-5p mimic, an overexpression vector for STAT3, or incubation with 50 µg/mL of the STAT3 activator Colivelin for 4 h. Cell viability was measured using the CCK-8 assay, apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and expression levels of p-STAT3/STAT3 and pyroptosis-related proteins were determined by Western Blot. Additionally, cleaved caspase-1 was assessed by immunofluorescence, miR-21-5p expression by qRT-PCR, and STAT3 binding to the miR-21-5p promoter region by ChIP and dual-luciferase reporter assays. Results showed that Xihuang Pill significantly reduced cell viability, increased apoptosis, and upregulated the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins such as NLRP3, IL-1β, cleaved caspase-1, and GSDMD-N, while reducing p-STAT3/STAT3 and miR-21-5p levels (P < 0.05). Xihuang Pill inhibited STAT3 activation, which modulated miR-21-5p expression by binding to its promoter region. Co-transfection with miR-21-5p mimic reversed the effect of Xihuang Pill on glioma pyroptosis (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Xihuang Pill promotes glioma cell pyroptosis through the STAT3/miR-21-5p pathway.
Antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity potentials of green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using the aqueous extract of
Nkemzi AQ, Okaiyeto K, Oyenihi O, Opuwari CS, Ekpo OE and Oguntibeju OO
The current research involved the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using an aqueous extract of shoots, and subsequent characterization via different analytical methods, such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), and zeta potential. The biological effects of the ZnO-NPs were then tested against C3A hepatocyte cells and L6 myocyte cell lines via series of analysis, including cytotoxicity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effect via enzymatic inhibition. The UV-Vis analysis showed a maximum absorption spectrum at 360, and the TEM analysis reveals a spherical and hexagonal structures, with an average dimension of 28.05-58.3 nm, and the XRD reveals a crystalline hexagonal structure. The zeta potential evaluation indicated that the ZnO-NPs are relatively stable at - 20 mV, and the FTIR analysis identified some important functional group associated with phenolics, carboxylic acid, and amides that are responsible for reducing and stabilizing the ZnO-NPs. The synthesized ZnO-NPs demonstrated cytotoxic effects on the cell lines at higher concentrations (125 µg/mL and 250 µg/mL), complicating the interpretation of the results of the inflammatory and antioxidant assays. However, there was a significant ( < 0.05) increase in the inhibitions of pancreatic lipase, alpha-glucosidase, and alpha-amylase, indicating beneficial antidiabetic effects.
Micropropagation and in vitro rejuvenation of F. Muell
de Oliveira LS, Leite DM, Mendes FM, Molinari LV, Brondani GE, Gonçalves AN and de Almeida M
Micropropagation is an important tool for the propagation for recalcitrant species, like This is a first reported about a complete study of the , it includes the vegetative rescue protocol of mature trees, its micropropagation up to the implementation of a mini-garden and clonal micro-garden and evaluation of adventitious rooting of their propagules. The in vitro rejuvenation of genotypes (03, 05, 06, 13 and 15), over 21 successive subcultures, was evaluated by comparing minicutting and microcutting techniques and the efficiency of this biotechnological tool for cloning of the mature trees. The results provide evidence of the in vitro rejuvenation occurring in the mature trees during micropropagation, leading to increases in the multiplication ratios of the microstumps of three genotypes (03, 05 and 15). The survival and callogenesis percentages of the mini and microcuttings of were higher than 80% upon exiting of the greenhouse (30-days old) in the three cutting times. The results suggesting that factors beyond tissue maturity influence the adventitious rooting of the because minicuttings and microcuttings of the 05 and 13 elite genotypes exhibited rooting percentages lower than 20%. These findings provided a theoretical basis for realizing the micropropagation of the epicormic shoots of the mature trees and, subsequently, its in vitro rejuvenation by axillary bud proliferation.
Synthesis, radiolabeling, and biodistribution of 99 m-technetium-labeled zif-8 nanoparticles for targeted imaging applications
Almutairy B, Alharthi S, Ziora ZM and Ebrahimi Shahmabadi H
This study investigates the synthesis and radiolabeling of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-8) with the radioisotope technetium-99 m (Tc) using a solvothermal method in methanol. The methanolic medium facilitated the formation of nanoparticles with favorable characteristics, including a smaller particle size (198 ± 9.8 nm) and a low polydispersity index (PDI = 0.219 ± 0.011). Radiolabeling efficiency (RE%) and radiochemical purity (RCP%) were optimized by employing SnCl as a reducing agent, resulting in an RE% of 95.2 ± 1.9% and an RCP% of 96.1 ± 1.7% in triplicate ( = 3) at 65 °C. The nanoparticles exhibited high serum stability, retaining 99.05% of RCP% after 24 h, and demonstrated hemocompatibility, with hemolysis rates below 5% across all tested concentrations. In vitro biocompatibility assessments using NIH-3T3 cells indicated cell viability above 70% at concentrations up to 40 μg/mL. Biodistribution studies in rabbits ( = 6) revealed predominant accumulation in the bladder, with radiotracer uptake in the bladder being 6.3, 7.2, and 36.2 times higher than in the liver, kidneys, and heart ( < 0.0001), respectively, suggesting renal clearance. These results underscore the potential of Tc-(ZIF-8) nanoparticles for biomedical applications, particularly in targeted imaging and drug delivery. Future research will focus on improving targeting specificity and enhancing therapeutic efficacy in disease models.
Dissecting the genetic diversity of cultivated tomato () germplasm resources: a comparison of ddRADseq genotyping and microsatellite analysis via capillary electrophoresis and high-resolution melting
Tripodi P, D'Alessandro R, Cocozza A and Campanelli G
Understanding the genetic diversity of crops is of fundamental importance for the efficient use and improvement of germplasm resources. Different molecular genotyping systems have been implemented for population structure and phylogenetic relationships analyses, among which, microsatellites (SSRs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) markers have been the most widely used. This study reports the efficacy of SNPs detected via double-digest restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) and SSRs analyzed via capillary electrophoresis (CE) and high-resolution melting (HRM) in tomato. In total, 21,020 high-quality SNPs, 20 CE-SSRs, and 17 HRM-SSR markers were assayed in a panel of 72 accessions that included a diversified set of landraces, long-shelf-life cultivars and heirlooms with different origins and fruit typology. The results showed how the population structure analysis was consistent using the three genotyping methods, although SNPs were more efficient in distinguishing cultivar types and in measuring the degree of accessions' similarity. Compared to CE-SSR, the analysis of microsatellites via HRM yielded a slightly higher number of alleles (98 vs 96). HRM-SSR demonstrated a distinction between European and non-European germplasm, better resolving the collection's diversity and being more consistent with SNP data. Phylogenetic trees drawn with independent marker data, detected specific groups of accessions showing robust clusters, highlighting how heirlooms were less heterogeneous than landraces. In addition, the fixation index ( ) revealed a high genetic differentiation between heirlooms and long-shelf-life cultivars, with SNP and SSR-HRM data emphasizing the distinction between cherry and plum types and CE-SSR data between cherry and oxheart types. In all instances, a greater molecular variance was found within the different considered biological statuses, provenances, and typologies rather than among them. This work presents the first attempt to compare the three tomato genotyping techniques in tomato. Findings highlighted how the markers used are complementary for genetic diversity analysis, with SNPs providing better insight and HRM-SSR as a viable alternative to capillary electrophoresis to dissect the genetic structure.
Cryopreservation of two-celled pollen: a model system for studying the cellular mechanisms of cryoinjury and recovery
Gowthami R, Rajasekharan PE, Chander S, Shankar M, Srivastava V and Agrawal A
Cryopreservation serves as an invaluable technique for safeguarding the genetic diversity of plants and various organisms, while also facilitating fundamental biological research. Despite notable advancements in this field, the cryopreservation of certain cell types and tissues remains challenging, particularly those that exhibit sensitivity to low temperatures. Two-celled pollen is a promising model system for the study of cryopreservation. By exploring the cryopreservation of two-celled pollen, deeper insights can be gained into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cryoinjury and recovery. This knowledge can be used to develop new and improved cryopreservation protocols for a wider range of cell types and tissues. It is relatively simple, consisting of only two cells, and it is relatively easy to cryopreserve and culture. In addition to its potential for improving cryopreservation technologies, the study of two-celled pollen cryopreservation can also shed light on fundamental biological processes such as cell division, development, and stress tolerance. By unlocking the mysteries of two-celled pollen cryopreservation, we can gain a deeper understanding of nature's inner workings. This article reviews examples of studies that have successfully used two-celled pollen cryopreservation, highlighting key findings and discoveries enabled by this technique as case studies.
UPLC-QToF-MS/MS screening and characterization of Wight and in vitro assessment of its antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory potential
Sahoo DR, Babu SK, Naik BB, Hota SS, Bhoi N, Sarkar B, Ali SKM and Naik PK
belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is locally known as Badichang or mahasindhu. In this study, we performed Soxhlet extraction to prepare methanolic and hydromethanolic extracts, followed by quantification of their total phenolic content and total flavonoid content. Qualitative analysis of both the extracts was conducted to determine the presence of different phytochemicals. In addition, we aimed to identify the important phytochemical constituents in the methanolic extracts of (SPM) using ultra-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). Furthermore, this study investigated the antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties of SPM and its safety profile in the normal fibroblast cell line L929. A colony proliferation assay and a Griess assay were performed to evaluate the effects of SPM on colony formation and nitric oxide (NO) production. A total of 13 important phytochemicals were identified and reported. The methanolic extract of SPM demonstrated significant antioxidant activity. SPM also showed substantial antiproliferative activity on MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells, with an IC value of 45.53 ± 1.63 µg/ml, and also reduced the survival of these cancer cells by promoting nuclear fragmentation and condensation without causing harm to normal cells. SPM inhibits the colony formation and reduces the nitric oxide (NO) production. The anti-inflammatory potential of SPM was assessed utilizing the murine alveolar macrophages (J774.A.1) as an in vitro model, and SPM effectively lowered the levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6. These findings emphasized the antiproliferative potential of SPM to cancer cells, along with its anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant capabilities, indicating the therapeutic efficacy of this medicinal plant.
Cutting-edge perspectives on biosurfactants: implications for antimicrobial and biomedical applications
Gupta K and Sharma VK
Biosurfactants, naturally produced by plants and microorganisms, closely mimic synthetic surfactants in physiochemical properties, making them valuable alternatives in various applications. They serve as antimicrobial agents and play a crucial role in immune regulations. These compounds find wide use in industries like food processing, biodegradation, pharmaceuticals, and naturally present in the skin, brain, lungs, and gut, maintaining membrane permeability for organ health. This review outlines the basic characteristics and classes of biosurfactants (glycolipids, lipopeptides, phospholipids, and glycoproteins) and explores their biomedical importance, emphasizing their anti-adhesive, antimicrobial, and immune-modulating properties. This review aimed to provide outline the fundamental characteristics of biosurfactants and deliver a brief overview of their different classes, including glycolipids, lipopeptides, phospholipids, and glycoproteins. Furthermore, this review also explore their biomedical significance, highlighting their anti-adhesive, antimicrobial, and immune-modulating properties.
Plant resources for immunonutrients and immunomodulators to combat infectious respiratory viral diseases: a review
Kota S, Nelapati AK and Govada VR
Boosting the immune system has become a crucial aspect in the global battle against the COVID-19 pandemic and other similar infections to protect oneself against symptoms, especially in the prevention of viral infections of the lower respiratory tract. The importance of conducting more studies to create successful herbal formulations as infection prevention measures is emphasized in this review, which looks at the function of immune-boosting nutrients, medicinal plants, and herbal treatments. We reviewed and analyzed 207 studies published from 1946 to the present using reputable databases like Google Scholar, PubMed, and NCBI. The review examined 115 plant species in total and identified 12 key nutrients, including vitamins A, D, C, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and zinc, while noting that four plant families, Rosaceae, Asteraceae, Amaryllidaceae, and Acanthaceae, show potential against respiratory infections like influenza, RSV, and SARS-CoV. To lower the risk of infection, it is recommended to consume nutritious meals that have immune-modulating qualities. Information on the bioactive components of medicinal herbs, spices, and plants that have been effective in treating respiratory viral infections and related conditions is compiled in this review, which highlights phytoactive substances with antibacterial and antiviral activity as effective modulators to lower the risk of infections. Furthermore, it is highlighted that ancient knowledge systems, like Ayurveda and Naturopathy, should be integrated to help develop new herbal formulations. To improve immunity and lessen vulnerability to serious respiratory infections, the results highlight the need for including immune-modulating foods and plant-based medicines into everyday routines.
In silico study, synthesis and antimalarial evaluation of hybrid pyridine substituted pyrazole 1,3,5-triazine derivatives
Devanath B, Chetia B, Shakya A, Ghosh SK, Patgiri SJ, Bhowmick IP, Singh UP and Bhat HR
Malaria is a significant global public health issue, particularly prevalent in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, necessitating urgent research into novel and efficient therapies. In the current research, we have designed pyridine substituted pyrazole 1,3,5-triazine derivatives as antimalarials. A library including 300 compounds, designated as (-), has been generated using a variety of aliphatic and aromatic amines. Ten compounds have been selected via in silico screening such as molecular properties, toxicity study, docking study and conventional synthesis for antimalarial evaluation against strains 3D7 (chloroquine-sensitive) and Dd2 (chloroquine-resistant). The docking results of compounds and revealed higher binding interaction with amino acids Leu46, Phe58, Phe116, Ala16 (-341.33 kcal/mol), Ser111, Ile112, Val45 Pro113, Leu119 (-335.16 kcal/mol) and Phe58, Ser111, Ile112, Phe116 (-354.47 kcal/mol), Phe58, Met55, Leu46, Leu164, Pro113 (-346.34 kcal/mol) against wild (1J3I) and quadruple mutant (1J3K) type of -DHFR inhibitors. Further these compounds were synthesized by simple nucleophilic substitution reaction and characterized by different spectroscopic methods. The in vitro antimalarial assay results suggested that these compounds exhibit considerable antimalarial activity with IC values of 32.74-46.80 μM and 28.05-54.95 μM against both the chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) strains of , respectively. Among the ten derivatives, compound and show substantial potential as antimalarial agents. They are highly suitable for further refinement in the field of drug development to effectively decrease the global malarial burden.
Rational design of lanosterol 14α-demethylase for ergosterol biosynthesis in
Liang R, Xu K, Wang X, Wei W, Chen Q, Qin Z, Zeng W and Zhou J
Ergosterol is widely used in skin care products and drug preparation. Lanosterol 14α-demethylase (Erg11p, 14DM, CYP51) is the rate-limiting enzyme for the biosynthesis of various steroid compounds in . Herein, Erg11p was engineered to extend the in vivo catalytic half-life and increase the turnover rate. Single mutations resulting in lower folding energy were selected, and mutant P201H had an ergosterol yield of 576.9 mg·L. Through consensus design, single mutations resulting in higher sequence identity to homologs were tested and mutant K352L had an ergosterol yield of 677.9 mg·L. The key residues for substrate binding were confirmed via alanine scanning mutagenesis and mutant F384A had an ergosterol yield of 657.8 mg·L. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was conducted to investigate the contributions of pocket residues and eight residues were found to engage in weak interactions with lanosterol. Saturation mutagenesis was applied to these residues to enhance binding to lanosterol, and mutant F384E had an ergosterol yield of 733.8 mg·L. Meanwhile, MD simulations were conducted to assess the impact of mutant F384E on enzyme activity. The results consistently showed that single point mutation F384E had the greatest effect, outperforming the combination mutations. Batch fermentation increased the ergosterol yield of mutant F384E to 3067.5 mg·L, the highest reported to date. The successful engineering of Erg11p may pave the way for industrial-scale production of ergosterol and other steroids.
Parathyroid allotransplantation for severe post-surgical hypoparathyroidism: a Brazilian experience
Gadelha DD, Filho WA, d'Alva CB, de Sandes-Freitas TV and Júnior RMM
This study presents the cases of two women who developed severe permanent hypoparathyroidism after neck surgery for papillary thyroid cancer and underwent parathyroid allotransplantation. Despite taking high doses of calcium and calcitriol supplements, the patients experienced persistent hypocalcemic symptoms. Fresh parathyroid tissue was removed and prepared from two patients with hyperparathyroidism secondary to end-stage kidney disease and was implanted in the non-dominant forearm of the recipients. Donors and recipients were ABO-compatible, and immunological screening was performed only in Case 2 (HLA typing, panel reactive antibody, and crossmatch tests). A short-term immunosuppressive regimen was adopted, consisting of 3 days of methylprednisolone followed by 7 days of prednisone. In Case 1, oral supplementation decreased to half of the initial dose 1 month after transplantation and to one-fifth at the end of a 12-month follow-up period. In Case 2, intravenous calcium was discontinued 1-week post-transplantation, with no need for its use during the 12-month follow-up period. Serum parathyroid hormone levels did not increase and remained undetectable in both cases. In contrast, serum calcium levels increased significantly, and both patients experienced relief from hypocalcemic symptoms. Parathyroid allotransplantation can be an effective and safe treatment for PH and should be considered in severe cases. Nevertheless, formal recommendations depend on additional studies and validated protocols.
Metagenomics approaches in the discovery and development of new bioactive compound of 8-demethoxy-10-deoxysteffimycin from mangrove sediments
Sujith P, Singh JR, Jayalakshmi S, Kandaswamy K, Shaik MR, Hussain SA, Kari ZA and Guru A
A metagenomic library consisting of 15,000 clones was constructed from the mangrove sediment. An antimicrobially active clone from the metagenomic library PS49 was identified by function- based screening. This paper presents the results of the biochemical characterization and metagenomic library screening of the marine-derived antibiotic, 8-demethoxy-10-deoxysteffimycin. Plasmid libraries were constructed, and clones were produced using a metagenomic approach. Out of 15,000 clones, 81 clones were screened for antimicrobial activity, and five potential clones were selected. The activity of one clone was characterized and named as PS49. The bioactive compounds from the selected clone were checked for antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. The clone PS49 was tested against various pathogens including bacteria and fungi and it showed inhibitory effects against all the tested pathogens. The antimicrobially active fractions were then crystallized and subjected to spectroscopic analysis such as FTIR, NMR and LC-MS analysis. The substance from clone PS49 has finally been recognized, and the compound from clone PS49 has been identified as 8-demethoxy-10-deoxysteffimycin. The substances isolated from the PS49 clone exhibited strong anticancer activity against skin cancer-cell lines SK-MEL2. The compounds showed a reduction in cell viability with an increase in the compound concentration. The compounds obtained from clone PS49 showed an IC value of 85 µg/ml.
Nanomaterial-enabled drug transport systems: a comprehensive exploration of current developments and future avenues in therapeutic delivery
Basu S, Biswas P, Anto M, Singh N and Mukherjee K
Over the years, nanotechnology has gained popularity as a viable solution to address gene and drug delivery challenges over conventional methods. Extensive research has been conducted on nanosystems that consist of organic/inorganic materials, drugs, and its biocompatibility become the primary goal of improving drug delivery. Various surface modification methods help focus targeted and controlled drug release, further enabling multidrug delivery also. This newer technology ensures the stability of drugs that can unravel the mechanisms involved in cellular processes of disease development and its management. Tailored medication delivery provides benefits such as therapy, controlled release, and reduced adverse effects, which are especially important for controlling illnesses like cancer. However, multifunctional nanocarriers that possess high viscoelasticity, extended circulation half-life, biocompatibility, and biodegradability face some challenges and limitations too in human bodies. To produce a consistent therapeutic platform based on complex three-dimensional nanoparticles, careful design and engineering, thorough orthogonal analysis methods, and reproducible scale-up and manufacturing processes will be required in the future. Safety and effectiveness of nano-based drug delivery should be thoroughly investigated in preclinical and clinical trials, especially when considering biodistribution, targeting specific areas, and potential immunological toxicities. Overall, the current review article explores the advancements in nanotechnology, specific to nanomaterial-enabled drug delivery systems, carrier fabrication techniques and modifications, disease management, clinical research, applications, limitations, and future challenges. The work portrays how nanomedicine distribution affects healthcare with an emphasis on the developments in drug delivery techniques.
Cultivation of microalgae , sp and in wastewater from the household appliance industry for bioremediation and biofuel production
de Oliveira KL, da Silva Oliveira JL, Moraes EA, Dos Santos Pires Cavalcante KM, de Oliveira MLM and Alves CR
Microalgae sp were cultivated in effluent from the household appliance industry as an alternative medium for bioremediation due to the high variability of chemical and biological substances in wastewater. The experiments were carried out using biological effluent (BE), chemical effluent (CE), and a combination of the two (MIX). The results showed a maximum biomass yield of 1056 mg/L (± 0.216) in the BE cultivation of the microalga 969 mg/L (± 0.20) in the BE of the microalga sp. and 468 mg/L (± 0.46) in the CE of In addition, they showed removal (100%) in the CE and MIX for cultivation with and 100% BE and 75% MIX with sp For the (75.3%, 99% e 97.9%) in the cultures with BE, CE, and MIX respectively, with sp. 58% in BE and 42% in CE and MIX. With , 100% removal was observed in all 3 treatments. Metal removal was also observed. The culture showed lipid contents of 16%, 12%, and 17% for BE, CE, and MIX, respectively. For sp., 14.5% for BE, 16% for CE, and 14% for MIX. In the culture of 17%, 15.5%, and 16.5% for BE, CE, and MIX, respectively.
Exploring the mechanism of carbamazepine decreasing testosterone levels based on cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway
Li J, Liu Z, Pan M, Li L, Tong X, Wang Y, Chen B and Wang T
The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying carbamazepine (CBZ)-induced testicular toxicity and testosterone reduction in rats. For this purpose, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were intervened with 200 mg/kg CBZ for 12 weeks, and R2C cells were exposed to CBZ at concentrations of 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mM for 24 h. HE, Tunel, ELISA, immunofluorescence staining, RT-qPCR, and western blot were used to reveal the effects of CBZ on spermatozoa quality, testicular tissue structure, testosterone level and testosterone synthesis-related enzymes in rats. The results showed that CBZ significantly damaged the testicular tissue structure of rats, induced cell apoptosis, down-regulated the gene and protein expression levels of testosterone synthesis-related enzymes (STAR, TSPO, 17β-HSD and 3β-HSD), inhibited the expression of related proteins in the cAMP/PKA/CREB signalling pathway, and suppressed testosterone levels. In addition, the use of Db-cAMP (a PKA activator) significantly upregulated the protein expressions of PKA and p-CREB, evidently alleviated the CBZ-induced decrease in testosterone levels. In conclusion, CBZ induced testosterone resynthesis by inhibiting the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway, affecting the expression of steroid synthesis-related enzymes and reducing testosterone levels.
Efficacy of two different microbial consortia on salinity tolerance in chickpea: an in-planta evaluation on biochemical, histochemical, and genomic aspects
Sathya A, Rehman V, Srinivas V, Kudapa H and Gopalakrishnan S
This study aimed to identify and characterize actinobacteria and rhizobia with plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits from chickpea plants. Out of 275 isolated bacteria, 25 actinobacteria and 5 chickpea rhizobia showed 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACCd) activity. Selected chickpea rhizobia were tested for their nodulating capacity under sterile and non-sterile soil conditions. Further screening on salinity and PGP traits identified three promising isolates: KG13, KGCR17, and KGCR11. These three isolates were analyzed for their compatibility and made into a consortium (Consortium 1). This along with another consortium made from our salinity-tolerant lab strains ICKM4 and ICKM15 (Consortium 2) was compared studies. Trials revealed that Consortium 2 showed significant ( < 0.05) tolerance and on above-ground, below-ground traits and yield components than Consortium 1. Moreover, both consortia induced nodulation in saline-stressed plants, alleviated electrolyte leakage (2.3 vs. 0.4 in ICCV 2; 1.8 vs. 0.6 in JG 11), and increased chlorophyll content. Histochemical staining indicated reduced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in consortium-treated plants under salinity stress. Further, gene expression studies revealed mixed patterns, with up-regulation of antioxidant and transporter genes observed in consortium-treated plants, particularly in Consortium 2. Overall, Consortium 2 showed better gene expression levels for antioxidant and transporter genes, indicating its superior efficacy in mitigating salinity stress in chickpea plants. This study provides valuable insights into the potential use of these microbial isolates in improving chickpea productivity by enhancing salinity tolerance.
Cloning, heterologous expression and characterization of β-glucosidase deriving from (Stahel) Aime and Phillips Mora
Vitor AB, Farias KS, Ribeiro GCA, Pirovani CP, Benevides RG, Pereira GAG and de Assis SA
Β-glucosidase (BGLs) act synergistically with endoglucanases and exoglucanases and then are of great interest for biomass conversion into bioethanol. Thus, the aim of the current study is to produce a recombinant β-glycosidase from expressed in cells. Enzyme coding sequence expression was confirmed through Sanger sequencing after using wheat bran (WB) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as fungal growth media. Synthetic gene betaglyc-GH1 with optimized codons for expression was cloned in pET-28a. β-glucosidase recombinant (GH1chimera) was purified using a nickel column and its identity was confirmed through mass spectrometry. The recombinant enzyme presented an apparent molecular mass of 53.23 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Recombinant β-glucosidase has shown hydrolytic activity using p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glycopyranoside (pNPG) as substrate and maximum activity at pH 4.6 and 65 °C. Thus, the results indicate that the application of the GH1chimera in the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials to obtain glucose monomers can be efficient.
Sodium propionate ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome in rats via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
He F, Zhong JS, Chen CL, Tian P, Chen J and Fan XM
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe lung disease characterized by significant hypoxemia, which impairs the oxygen supply necessary for optimal lung function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sodium propionate (SP), the primary end product of intestinal flora fermentation of dietary fiber, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ARDS in rats. The rats were treated with SP, after which the lung wet/dry ratio, arterial partial oxygen pressure (PaO), levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, tight junction proteins ZO-1 and Occludin, as well as LC3 and phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K)/p-AKT/p-mTOR protein levels, were measured. Additionally, histopathological analysis was conducted. The results indicated that SP effectively alleviated arterial hypoxemia in rats and mitigated the pathological damage to both intestinal and lung tissues caused by LPS. Notably, SP significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6 in the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of ARDS rats, while increasing the concentration of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. Furthermore, SP inhibited the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and enhanced the LC3II/LC3I ratio in lung tissue. Therefore, SP may improve LPS-induced ARDS in rats by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, promoting autophagy, decreasing the production and release of inflammatory markers, and reducing alveolar epithelial damage.
Simultaneous detection of novel goose parvovirus and novel duck reovirus by SYBR Green I-based duplex real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction
Wang Y, Wang Y, Bi Z, Liu Y, Meng C, Zhu J, Liu G and Li C
Co-infection with novel goose parvovirus (NGPV) and novel duck reovirus (NDRV) is common, significantly impeding duck growth and resulting in considerable economic losses within the duck farming industry. To facilitate rapid and accurate diagnosis and differentiation of these two viruses, this study developed a SYBR Green I-based duplex real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. This assay enabled the simultaneous detection of NGPV and NDRV by exploiting their distinct melting temperatures (Tm): 78.5 ± 0.50 °C for NGPV and 84.5 ± 0.50 °C for NDRV. No amplification was observed for other prevalent non-target duck viruses. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were less than 1.75%. The assay showed good performance with the same detection limit of 10 copies/μL for both NGPV and NDRV. The results of the clinical testing indicated that 45.3% (34/75) of the samples tested positive for NGPV, while 38.7% (29/75) were positive for NDRV. Notably, 13.3% (10/75) exhibited co-infection. These results revealed that the sensitivity of the developed method exceed that of conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The developed method for the identifying of NGPV and NDRV shows good specificity, sensitivity, and repeatability, rendering it an effective tool for the simultaneous detection of co-infection with NGPV and NDRV.